Published 4:32 pm, Sunday, September 3, 2017

AP Photo/Jason Dearen

The Environmental Protection Agency on Sunday released a lengthy statement condemning a recent Associated Press report that said the regulator was nowhere to be found at dangerous, potentially toxic sites submerged by flooding in Houston.

On Saturday, the AP reported that the EPA was not present at at least five flooded so-called Superfund sites, or locations that the EPA designated as "being among America's most intensely contaminated places." Following flooding in Houston last week, many observers worried that chemicals could've further contaminated the flood water near the Superfund sites.

In a fiery and personal statement on Sunday, the EPA dubbed the story "incredibly misleading," saying it "creates panic and politicizes the hard work of first responders who are actually in the affected area."

"Through aerial imaging, EPA has already conducted initial assessments at 41 Superfund sites – 28 of those sites show no damage, and 13 have experienced flooding," the statement said. "This was left out of the original story, along with the fact that EPA and state agencies worked with responsible parties to secure Superfund sites before the hurricane hit. Leaving out this critical information is misleading."

But the EPA's statement raised eyebrows particularly because of the personal criticisms it leveled against the report's author, Michael Biesecker, attempting to undermine the report's credibility by saying Biesecker wrote the story "from the comfort of Washington."

The statement said Biesecker has a "history of not letting the facts get in the way of his story," citing a sensational Breitbart News story that said EPA administrator Scott Pruitt met with Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris. The AP's original report relied on the public schedule released by the EPA, but corrected its story when the formal meeting was canceled.

"Once again, in an attempt to mislead Americans, the Associated Press is cherry-picking facts, as EPA is monitoring Superfund sites around Houston and we have a team of experts on the ground working with our state and local counterparts responding to Hurricane Harvey," EPA associate administrator Liz Bowman said. "Anything to the contrary is yellow journalism."

The Associated Press responded to EPA's statement Sunday evening, saying its reporting "was the result of on the ground reporting as well as AP's strong knowledge of these sites and EPA practices."

What happened: The site was previously home to a wood-treating facility owned by the United Creosoting Company. The facility was home to a coal-tar distillation still and two waste ponds that collected creosote and PCP process.

What happened: The site was home to a tin and copper smelting facility that operated from 1941 to 1989. The area was at risk for people inhaling and/or ingesting chemicals from the soil and shallow ground water.

What happened: From 1958 to 1984, the company operated a waste disposal facility for a variety of chemicals and wastes. The lagoon was used as a holding pond for all these chemicals. Contaminants were latter found in an upper aquifer that was connected to the Brazos River.

What happened: The site was once an illegal open dump which led to a number of wastes being thrown into the area. The main waste pit was surrounded by a dyke that was later breached by flooding, carrying those wastes across a larger area.

What happened: The EPA believes the site was used to dump an unknown amount of industrial waste sludge. Investigators believed it was spent sulfuric acid, likely the byproduct of oil and gas refining processes.

What happened: In the 1970s, the site was a coppery recovery and hydrocarbon washing facility. A decade later, investigators discovered several chemical substances had contaminated the surrounding soil.

Area: South of 610 and west of Hwy 288, bordering the South Loop Feeder Street and South David Street

Date: October 1984 - present

What happened: An electrical transformer salvage and recycling company operated in the area in the 1960s and '70s. It is believed that oil had seeped into the ground and water during the dismantling of transformers.

Area: Northeast of Cavalcade and Maury streets and a mile southwest of Loop 610 and Hwy 59

Date: October 1984 - present

What happened: In 1946, a small creosote wood preserving business was established on the site. When the facility was sold and abandoned, it was learned the creosote had leaked into the lagoons and contaminated the area.

What happened: In the 1960s, a metal casting foundry was established on the site with a second facility emerging in 1970. Investigators believe the air emissions from the facilities caused lead particles to fall to the earth and contaminate the soil.

What happened: Before 1967, the site was used for petroleum exploration and production. Over time, the site was developed, changed hands and finally abandoned in 1981 but not before chemicals stored at the site contaminated nearby groundwater.

"We object to the EPA's attempts to discredit that reporting by suggesting it was completed solely from 'the comforts of Washington' and stand by the work of both journalists who jointly reported and wrote the story."

Read the AP's full response below:

"AP's exclusive story was the result of on the ground reporting as well as AP's strong knowledge of these sites and EPA practices. We object to the EPA's attempts to discredit that reporting by suggesting it was completed solely from 'the comforts of Washington' and stand by the work of both journalists who jointly reported and wrote the story."

The New Yorker's Talia Lavin noted that Sunday's statement wasn't far out of line with the EPA's communications shift following Trump's inauguration and appointment of director Scott Pruitt.